Home Health & Wellbeing
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨

pain getting worse

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
(to cut a long story short - been feeling unwell since summer, had shit loads of tests, since found out I had glandular fever at some point, and my folate levels were low, but no reason especially for such pain)

I was put on pregablin 75mg once a day in sept mainly to manage anxiety, this was upped to twice a day in november, and 2 weeks ago it upped again to 75mg once and then 150mg in another dose, to help with the pain as well. I was told to give it 2 weeks and then go back if it wasn't really helping. I now can't get an appointment until next week but I'm really unsure of what I can do now to manage my pain. I know I could up my dose of my own accord and this would still be well within the limit (600mg per day), but I know thats not advisable. I'm not really in a position to have hot baths everyday (i'm still having to stay with friends because my house is still not quite ready to live in, and the emersion heater need to be replaced at my new place), and I have no codeine to take and I can't take ibuprophen for more than a couple of days without it irritating my gut.

The doctors are heading towards a diagnosis of fibro or post viral something or other, but we're still no nearer to any concrete treatment plan as yet...

But any ideas what I do about the pain? I've got some glucosamine patches, and heat patches, but is there anything much else I can do? My muscles are getting so tight and painful especially around my joints, I'm just about managing my energy levels with naps and careful eating but the pain is getting unbareable!

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If you need to take ibuprofen long-term, you're normally prescribed drugs to help with the stomach symptoms. I have Lanzaprazole, but Omeprazole is the same kind of thing and you can buy it over the counter.

    It's expensive and I wouldn't recommend it as an alternative to seeing you doctor but it might help you bridge the gap while they figure something out for you :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Edit- double post!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi Miss_Riot

    Those stomach pains do sound painful.

    From what I can see you've done everything right and further to the methods of pain relief you've already tried I cant think of any alternatives.

    Its a shame with doctors waiting lists the way the are you can't get an appointment sooner.

    Have you thought about trying to ring NHS direct? The might be able to give you some more concrete advice.

    The number is 0845 4647

    http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

    Hope that helps.

    Phil :thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Not stomach pains Phil, joint, muscle and nerve pains!

    I've tried NHS direct and they said they couldn't really give me any advice for chronic pain without a diagnosis. :-?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    if you call your surgery, ask for a telephone consultation with your doctor and they should ring you back if you cant get in
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If I'm not feeling any better at all by Friday morning I think I will. Its horrible, i'm not getting achey all over like my mum does with ME but its like doing everything with wrist and ankle weights most mornings and evenings, and I get several different types of pain going on at once. I, thankfully, don't lose too much strength during the day but come 7pm and I'm getting mood swings and in so much pain I'm crawling the walls. Even when I was on crutches for 12 weeks and had bursitis and tendonitis I could block the pain out with pain killers, but it never goes away right now!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I would keep hassling the doctor for different pain meds. I know it's frustrating to keep having to go back, but from experience (not mine, but a friend's) doctors generally seem reluctant to prescribe stronger stuff without persistence and repeat visits. My housemate and good friend has just been diagnosed with fibro after a year of being really unwell with pain. Unfortunately it seems they do have to rule out a list of similar conditions, sciatica etc before diagnosing fibro, so getting to the root of the problem can take a long time. She did have a virus a year ago, which was when the pain started. Her original doctor didn't seem to know too much about fibro, so she has changed GPs a few times before finding one who's listened to her symptoms and actually helped with the pain.

    I think it's fair to say she's found codeine and tramadol to be most effective at managing the pain, although she has to walk with a cane if she goes out anywhere and she still has days where she really can't do much and needs help around the house. I'm not a doctor, but I guess people react differently to these meds, so it's trial and error to an extent. Other than that she just tries to rest, has a soak in the bath or has a few mates over to try to distract her and try to forget about being in pain for a bit.

    Hope you feel better soon hun *hug*
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Well it seems thats when the pain started for me (after having glandular fever). The GP I see his specialism is rheumatology so he should know his stuff. I don't want to have to take codeine because I like it too much and can become hooked very easily! I also seem to be allergic to lots of standard painkillers (tramadol gives me vomiting and halucinations and paracetamols not good for me either). I really don't want to be getting to a point where I'm having to use a stick, I have a friend who seems to be able to manage her fibro quite well and she works 12-5 5 days a week, which right now I'd really struggle to do. I'd like to aim to get back to at least that point.

    Has anyone ever been sent on some kind of pain management course or been to a specialist clinic? I was thinking about getting a tens machine when I have some cash again but can they be used on joints or just big fleshy bits like my lower back?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I saw the college OT today and she said I really should have been seen by a consultant by now and that I need to give it one more go or think about changing my surgery. I think she's right unfortunately - we chose these drs because they use an anthropathsophical approach as well as conventional. But even I (a semi believer in homeopathy NO COMMENTS PLEASE NOT NEEDED RIGHT NOW) want a little bit more than just some kind words and some compresses and drops. I've been asked to consider entering a competition by college, its quite prestigious and involves a fair bit of work but my tutor feels I could do it if I had a fair bit of support behind me, but she did say that she wasn't sure how I'd fair mentally due to the pressure and that it was my call...

    I want to do this BADLY but shes right I could be putting myself in a worse position than now if I can't cope with the pressure. If this was sorted or at least getting somewhere I'd be saying yes for definate, but I'm really not sure right now :(

    I was joking around today with my mother saying that I felt like an elderly artheritic cat that needed putting down...I'm 22 for fucks sake! I should be out clubbing and gigging and working my heart out achieving what I know I'm capable of rather than feeling totally twarted by this whatever it is!!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm sorry to hear you are going through this. I hope that things will get better for you.

    xx
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Miss_Riot wrote: »
    Not stomach pains Phil, joint, muscle and nerve pains!

    Apologies Miss_Riot, my mind got jumbled in between posts! :-)
Sign In or Register to comment.